Rule question

[HowardRoark]

With most things in life, there is a reasonable explanation for why things are as they are.

Does anyone know why there is a rule that if you bring in a 3rd string quarterback before the 4th quarter, you can no longer play the first two?

[Lurker64]

With most things in life, there is a reasonable explanation for why things are as they are.

Does anyone know why there is a rule that if you bring in a 3rd string quarterback before the 4th quarter, you can no longer play the first two?

I think it's because there's an exemption to the 45-man roster rule, where a team is allowed to keep the 3rd string QB as the 46th active player so a team with two QB injuries still has a nominal chance. To prevent a team from exploiting this by just having a 46th active player by having a running back or wide receiver as the "third QB", there are rules to prevent teams from using the third QB unless they absolutely have to.

[pbmax]

I think it is an attempt to keep the Game Day roster as close to 45 as possible. I think this rule is the exception that prevents Forte or Earl Bennett from playing NFL QB.

The motivation for the insistence on 45 game day actives is probably contracts and money. But that is just a guess.

[Joemailman]

If Lovie had tried to bring Cutler back in for Hanie, could the Packers have allowed it?

[pbmax]

I think it's because there's an exemption to the 45-man roster rule, where a team is allowed to keep the 3rd string QB as the 46th active player so a team with two QB injuries still has a nominal chance. To prevent a team from exploiting this by just having a 46th active player by having a running back or wide receiver as the "third QB", there are rules to prevent teams from using the third QB unless they absolutely have to.

Agree with your last point. It prevents the 3rd QB from being a slash type player or specialist who otherwise couldn't be active without weakening another position.

[Lurker64]

Agree with your last point. It prevents the 3rd QB from being a slash type player or specialist who otherwise couldn't be active without weakening another position.

I believe we saw this in action a couple years ago with the Dolphins. Chad Pennington was the nominal starter, but Chad Henne was his best backup, while Pat White was their shiny new wildcat toy. Since Henne would only play in case of an injury to Pennington, while White was supposed to play in spots, Henne was relegated to third QB spot even though he was the best of the backups.

[sharpe1027]

Agree with your last point. It prevents the 3rd QB from being a slash type player or specialist who otherwise couldn't be active without weakening another position.

Yeah, there were a few articles about this around the time Vick returned.

http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/26/vick-and-the-third-quarterback-rule/

When the rule was instituted 1991

Why it was instituted Largely because of the happenings in the notorious “body bag game” between Washington and Philadelphia in 1990. Redskins quarterbacks Jeff Rutledge and Stan Humphries were forced to the sideline after hits by the Eagles. Without a third quarterback dressed for the game, Washington was forced to use Brian Mitchell, its all-purpose star, at quarterback in the fourth quarter in the Eagles’ 28-14 victory.

[mraynrand]

Yeah, there were a few articles about this around the time Vick returned.

http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/26/vick-and-the-third-quarterback-rule/

When the rule was instituted 1991

Why it was instituted Largely because of the happenings in the notorious “body bag game” between Washington and Philadelphia in 1990. Redskins quarterbacks Jeff Rutledge and Stan Humphries were forced to the sideline after hits by the Eagles. Without a third quarterback dressed for the game, Washington was forced to use Brian Mitchell, its all-purpose star, at quarterback in the fourth quarter in the Eagles’ 28-14 victory.

I remember that game. When Heiney got lit up on that run to the sidelines, I was commenting that we might see Devin Hester in there at QB if things keep going the way they were for Chicago....

[HarveyWallbangers]

If Lovie had tried to bring Cutler back in for Hanie, could the Packers have allowed it?

[mraynrand]

If Lovie had tried to bring Cutler back in for Hanie, could the Packers have allowed it?

[CaptainKickass]

I saw someone post that Hanie was listed as inactive before the game started (game thread?)

Was Hanie indeed listed as inactive?
If so, how exactly does this rule allow a team (Bears) to activate him in mid-game?

[pbmax]

I saw someone post that Hanie was listed as inactive before the game started (game thread?)

Was Hanie indeed listed as inactive?
If so, how exactly does this rule allow a team (Bears) to activate him in mid-game?

That is the first part of the emergency QB rule discussed above. The 3rd QB on a team roster can be put on the inactive list AND brought into the game if the other two are hurt. The consequence of this (also mentioned above) is that the other two QBs cannot play if the 3rd QB goes in. In essence, they better be truly injured.

If the inactive 3rd QB enters in the 4th quarter, then any of the three can continue to play.

[HowardRoark]

Thanks for the answers.

[get louder at lambeau]

Another rule question-

Does a player really have to REESTABLISH himself back in the field of play after being in the endzone? Jarrett Bush stopped that punt at the one yard line, and no part of him was touching the endzone. I thought reestablishing position in the field of play was for out of bounds to in bounds only.

Anybody know for sure?

[HarveyWallbangers]

Another rule question-

Does a player really have to REESTABLISH himself back in the field of play after being in the endzone? Jarrett Bush stopped that punt at the one yard line, and no part of him was touching the endzone. I thought reestablishing position in the field of play was for out of bounds to in bounds only.

Anybody know for sure?

I'm pretty sure the right call was made.